When Jethro Gibbs returned to the squad room at NCIS headquarters, the first thing he noticed was a swarm of FBI personnel, and to top it off, Tobias Fornell was sitting at his desk. "DiNozzo!" he yelled. Tony DiNozzo was just coming out of the restroom when he heard Gibbs call his name. His first instinct, was to turn around, go back inside, and hide in one of the stalls. Instead, he put on his patented grin and said, "Right here boss." Gibbs glared at him and said, I am going to go outside, and when I come back, I am going to shoot the first person sitting at a desk where they do not belong." Tobias Fornell said, "No need Jethro, I was just checking something out using your computer. You know, this TV looking gizmo that you use to put sticky notes on? He got up saying, "It's all yours." Damned right it is, and don't you forget it" Gibbs snapped. Then he added, "Upstairs in Jenn's office, right now!" Without waiting for a reply, he wheeled and ran up the stairs to Director Jenny Shephard's office. Reaching the outer office, he blew by the receptionist and flung open the double doors. Fornell came up the stairs more slowly, apologized to the young lady outside Jenny's office and followed Gibbs into the room. Jenny had been expecting this confrontation, and steeled herself for the fireworks that she knew were imminent. She forced a smile and said, "Won't you come in gentlemen?" Gibbs leaned over her desk and said, "Get this Jackass out of my squad room!" The Director shuffled some papers then looked up at his face just inches from hers. "I can't do that Jethro." she replied. Gibbs threw up his hands and paced around the room before saying, "Great! I guess I'll just go back down to that shack on the beach in Mexico and go fishing. At least I'll be in charge of that!" "Look," Jenn replied. I don't like this situation any better than you do, but I have direct orders from the Secretary Of The Navy, to give the FBI our full cooperation. Jethro, the bomb was placed in the forensics lab so we have to assume that Abby was the target. Who knows, maybe she found something about an ongoing investigation that she had not had time to tell us about. We are not going to let whoever did this to get away. We have to find out who is responsible and why. That means we do all we can, and use every resource available to accomplish that goal. That young woman has busted her tail for this agency. She was here very early this morning before anyone else, unpacking and setting up new equipment. I suspect that's where the bomb was.
Fornell broke in. "It was. We found the remains of a timing device, and traces of C4 in what was left of what we suspect was a new computer. Apparently, it was rigged to activate the timer when the unit was powered up. It's a wonder she wasn't killed when it detonated. A little more C4 and"--his voice trailed off. Jenny Shephard looked at Fornell and said, "I have been on the phone with your superiors at the bureau. The results of that conversation is that you and Jethro are to share equally in this investigation. In other words, you will stop acting like two school boys fighting, and work together. She looked at them both before continuing. "Do I make myself clear?" "Ah Hell! Gibbs exclaimed, and stormed out of the office. The Director looked at Fornell and said, "I'm not going to have a problem with you am I Tobias?" He started to speak then thought the better of it. He just shook his head. "Good," she replied. "Now go help Jethro find out who did this." With that, she turned back to the paper work on her desk and Fornell excused himself and left the office.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Jethro and Tobias Fornell disagree on who takes the lead in the investigation.